Netflix’s Dept Q is a worthy UK crime series that’s suited for fans of Slow Horses. From Scott Frank—the writer and director of The Queen’s Gambit—the series might not be for everybody or essential viewing, but for those who need their specific British crime thriller itch scratched, it does the job right from the start.
More than anything, the series shines because of Matthew Goode’s brilliantly layered performance as he brings yet another complex character to life with admirable range. Long-time readers of Lady Geeks Media know that I’ll basically watch almost anything Matthew Goode is in, and it’s always great when the content is incredible, too. And for the most part, Netflix’s Dept Q is solid viewing.
Goode’s performance, along with everything Leah Byrne, Alexej Manvelov, Chloe Pirrie, Kelly Macdonald, Jamie Sives, Kate Dickie, Shirley Henderson, Mark Bonnar, and the rest of the cast, bring is what allows the series to become one that’s easy to binge and invest in. However, the slight pacing issues the show runs into toward the end propose why we needed the number of episodes we get, but that’s a mostly minor complaint when the show is mostly engaging. It’s certainly not a rule, but UK dramas like Dept. Q typically have six to eight episodes, and if we’d gotten that number (six, to be exact), it would’ve allowed the series to feel a bit more tightly executed. It’s hard to imagine how it’d be if the characters weren’t so riveting.
Ultimately, the character dynamics and gritty tone make the show one that’s worth appreciating. It’s dark at times, bloody, and thoroughly unafraid of diving deep into ugly pasts to explore why these characters are the way that they are. For a series that follows a clear narrative trajectory from the beginning, the series is surprisingly character-driven, making it all the more gripping in what it leaves the audience with. It isn’t hard to care about these characters, and it isn’t hard to want more of the show.
Stylistically, the grittiness adds to the show’s charm, allowing it to bring out darker performances that feel right to enhance the tone and make the main case that much more intriguing. The characters are all so messy, raw, and complex that it allows watching the series to be that much more exciting when we’re trying to guess the outcome.
Our readers know I’ll mention it every time, but while the series is substantially lacking in the romance area, it’s still mostly absorbing as a series that can go without it. Do I want Goode’s character to be happy at some point because there’s only so much pain a character can take? Yes, but it doesn’t feel too torturous at the moment.
With a solid debut season, Netflix’s Dept Q is dark, riveting, and thoroughly enjoyable in all that it brings. The quiet character work is what ultimately fortifies the show’s themes, and viewers who aren’t generally interested in this type of slower narrative might not appreciate it as much. Nevertheless, it’s worth its salt for those who love British crime dramas.
Dept Q is now streaming on Netflix.
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